Centre to levy import duties on non-essential items as exports fall: Report

The government is also looking for ways to separate commodities that come under the same Harmonized System of Nomenclature (HSN) code for imposing duties

The Centre may hike the duties on imports of "non-essential items" ahead of growing concerns around a slowdown in exports and a widening trade deficit. Several ministries are in the process of shortlisting the commodities for duty hikes, as reported by the Indian Express (IE). The list will reportedly be restricted to only the commodities that have "enough manufacturing capacity" in the country. 

"We are looking at non-essential imports for which there is enough manufacturing capacity. It is to identify non-essential items, where there is sufficient production capacity and allow for higher import substitution," an official told IE. 

The government